WASHINGTON, D.C. — Senator Mike Lee (R-UT), alongside co-sponsors Senators Rick Scott (R-FL), Pete Ricketts (R-NE), John Curtis (R-UT), and Roger Marshall (R-KS), has introduced the Silencers Help Us Save Hearing (SHUSH) Act—a bill that would remove federal restrictions on suppressors, treating them like any other standard firearm accessory.
If passed, the SHUSH Act would eliminate outdated regulations that classify suppressors as National Firearms Act (NFA) items, removing unnecessary red tape, waiting periods, and the $200 tax stamp requirement. The bill would also override state laws that impose additional restrictions on suppressor ownership and use.
Why This Matters
Suppressors are misunderstood and overregulated due to outdated laws and Hollywood-fueled misconceptions. Contrary to popular belief, suppressors do not make firearms silent—they simply reduce the noise to safer levels, much like a car muffler. Countries such as France, Norway, and New Zealand encourage suppressor use for hearing protection, while the U.S. continues to burden law-abiding citizens with excessive restrictions.
By treating suppressors as standard firearm accessories, the SHUSH Act will:
Improve Hearing Protection – Shooting sports and self-defense scenarios often involve dangerously high noise levels. Suppressors reduce the risk of permanent hearing damage.
Encourage Safer Shooting Ranges – Noise complaints are a leading cause of shooting range closures. Wider suppressor use could help keep ranges open and accessible.
End Government Overreach – The current NFA restrictions are arbitrary, expensive, and unnecessary. Suppressors should not be harder to buy than firearms themselves.
Support the SHUSH Act
The SHUSH Act is a major win for the Second Amendment community, but it needs public support to move forward. Contact your representatives and demand that they support this bill. Suppressors are tools for responsible gun owners—not criminal accessories. It’s time to end the stigma and bring U.S. suppressor laws in line with common sense.
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